SIT Begins Investigation into Alleged Assault on Army Colonel in Patiala

A three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) initiated its probe into the alleged assault on Army Colonel Pushpinder Singh Bath and his son by police personnel in Patiala around two weeks ago. The team, led by Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) SPS Parmar, visited the incident site on Tuesday and began collecting relevant documents related to the case.

The SIT was formed on March 21 after a new FIR was filed based on the Colonel’s statement. The alleged assault took place on the night of March 13, when 12 police personnel reportedly attacked the Colonel and his son. The case has sparked a significant controversy, drawing attention from various political groups, who have criticized the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for the state’s law and order situation during the ongoing Punjab Assembly session.

However, the victims’ family has rejected the SIT’s investigation and is demanding a CBI probe instead. On Tuesday, while the SIT visited the scene and held a closed-door meeting with senior district police officers, they could not meet with the victims, as they were in Chandigarh attending a hearing at the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The family has filed a petition in the court, seeking the transfer of the case to the CBI.

The SIT reportedly reviewed the photos and video footage of the incident submitted by the Colonel during their visit.